NHER 43334 (Monument record) - World War Two pillbox and spigot mortar emplacements, South Denes

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a World War Two pillbox, spigot mortar emplacements and a slit trench system is visible on aerial photographs on South Denes, Great Yarmouth (S1)-(S3). These defences have been cut into the foundations of the World War One seaplane station (NHER 13631). The Denes was heavily defended with a variety of pillboxes, gun positions, trenches and barbed wire, see NHER 43323 for overview of area. The site is centred on TG 5323 0449.

The pillbox is a type 24 and is located at TG 5322 0450. It appears to facing inland, protecting the Denes area, rather than the coastal strip itself. The top of the pillbox is camouflaged to look like the foundations and concrete ground surface around it. There are two spigot mortar emplacements, one placed in a rounded pit at TG 5320 0449 and another in a rectangular trench at TG 5324 0451. To the south of these gun emplacements is a broad slit trench with accompanying bank and additional weapons pits cut around the edge. The slit trench appears to have been dug by February 1941 (S1), however the fixed defences are later additions (S2)-(S3).
S. Massey (NMP), 02 March 2006.